Abstract: A fluid flow guide plate for an electrochemical reactor. The plate includes, on a single surface: a flow collector; a plurality of flow channels, provided on the plate to ensure fluid flow and extending in a single longitudinal direction; an exchange channel, extending in a direction transverse to the flow channels; a plurality of supply channels that are fluidly connected, on a first side, to the flow collector by a first end and, on a second side, to the exchange channel by a second end. The exchange channel puts the flow channels in communication with one another and includes at least one obstacle provided to partially close off the flow between the second ends and the flow channels.

Abstract: A bipolar plate, including conductive sheets, and in which flow channels are made between the conductive sheets and are in communication with a coolant inlet and outlet manifolds. An outer face of a conductive sheet includes first ribs delimiting reactant flow channels, and a second rib extending on the side of the reactant flow channels. A sealing gasket extends at least partially on the second rib. The outer face of the conductive sheet further includes third ribs extending between a first rib and the second rib, between which an alternation of third ribs and of indentation is formed. The sheets are in contact at the level of indentations, and respective passages are formed under the third ribs.

Abstract: A flow-guiding plate for a fuel cell, including a conductive sheet including a relief: defining alternating flow channels on first and second faces, two successive channels on the first face being separated by walls; defining first and second access holes at ends of each of the flow channels on the second face and of a first group of flow channels on the first face; defining a flow restriction in each flow channel of a second group of flow channels on the first face, the cross-section of the flow restrictions being smaller than the cross-section of the access holes to the flow channels of the first group, the first face including alternating flow channels of the first group and alternating flow channels of the second group.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The membrane electrode assembly includes a proton exchange membrane and first and second electrodes. The bipolar plate includes conductive sheets, coolant flow channels are made between the conductive sheets. An outer face of a conductive sheet includes reactant flow channels and a first rib extending on the side of the reactant flow channels. A gasket extends on the first rib. The bipolar plate includes an intermediate zone extending between the first rib and the first electrode, a first band in which the sheets have complementary shapes nested one in the other over the entire length of a coolant flow channel, and a second band in which a sheet includes reliefs in contact with the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A flow-guiding plate for a fuel cell, including a conductive sheet including a relief: defining alternating flow channels on first and second faces, two flow channels on the first face being separated by walls; defining an access hole at a first end of each of the flow channels on the second face and of a first group of flow channels on the first face; defining an access hole at a second end of each of the flow channels on the second face and of a second group of flow channels on the first face; defining a flow restriction at the second end of each of the flow channels of the first group and at the first end of each of the flow channels of the second group.

Abstract: A process for supplying a fuel cell with reactive species, including a stack of electrochemical cells divided into N different groups, wherein a plurality of steps of selectively supplying the N groups of cells with reactive species are carried out, following each of the supply steps, a step of purging the N groups of cells is carried out.

Abstract: A flow-guiding plate for a fuel cell, including a conductive sheet including a relief: defining alternating flow channels on first and second faces, two successive channels on the first face being separated by walls; defining first and second access holes at ends of each of the flow channels on the second face and of a first group of flow channels on the first face; defining a flow restriction in each flow channel of a second group of flow channels on the first face, the cross-section of the flow restrictions being smaller than the cross-section of the access holes to the flow channels of the first group, the first face including alternating flow channels of the first group and alternating flow channels of the second group.

Abstract: A method for determining a spatial distribution (Rcx,yf) of a parameter of interest (Rc) representative of a contact resistance between a bipolar plate and an adjacent electrode of an electrochemical cell, in which a spatial distribution (Rcx,yf) of the parameter of interest (Rc) is determined depending on the spatial distribution (Qx,ye) of a second thermal quantity (Qc) estimated beforehand from the spatial distribution (Tx,yc) of a set-point temperature (Tc) and from the spatial distribution (Dx,yr) of a first thermal quantity (Dr).

Abstract: A method for determining a spatial distribution (Rcx,yf) of a parameter of interest (Rc) representative of a contact resistance between a bipolar plate and an adjacent electrode of an electrochemical cell, in which a spatial distribution (Rcx,yf) of the parameter of interest (Rc) is determined depending on the spatial distribution (Qx,ye) of a second thermal quantity (Qc) estimated beforehand from the spatial distribution (Tx,yc) of a set-point temperature (Tc) and from the spatial distribution (Dx,yr) of a first thermal quantity (Dr).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a bipolar plate in which each of the distribution channels is located facing a dividing rib of the opposite conductive sheet; and in which said distribution channels include portions of various depths that are arranged so as to form a longitudinal alternation between: an enhanced distribution zone, in which: the distribution channels have a combined cross section of a high distribution value, and the cooling channels have a combined cross section of a low cooling value; and an enhanced cooling zone, in which: the distribution channels have a combined cross section of a value that is lower than the high distribution value, and the cooling channels have a combined cross section of a value that is higher than the low cooling value.

Abstract: A bipolar plate, including conductive sheets. An outer face of one of the conductive sheets includes first ribs, a second rib, and third ribs. The first ribs delimit fuel flow channels and the second rib extends on the side of the reactant flow channels, on which a gasket extends. Between a first rib and the second rib, the third ribs extend and an alternation of third ribs and of indentations is formed. The height between the third ribs and the indentations are at least equal to 75% of the total height of the flow channels. An outer face of the other of the conductive sheets includes fourth ribs and fifth ribs. The fourth ribs delimit oxidant flow channels. The fifth rib extends plumb with the second rib and a gasket extends along the fifth rib.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrochemical reactor, including: holding in position a first tube and a shaft extending in a same direction, the first tube including a bore in which a beam is housed; forming a stack which alternates bipolar plates and membrane/electrode assemblies, each bipolar plate and each membrane/electrode assembly including first and second openings through which the first tube and the shaft respectively extend; compressing the stack between two mechanical components and removing the beam from the bore of the first tube; and connecting the bore of the first tube to a fluid flow circuit of the electrochemical reactor.

Abstract: A fluid flow guide plate for an electrochemical reactor. The plate includes, on a single surface: a flow collector; a plurality of flow channels, provided on the plate to ensure fluid flow and extending in a single longitudinal direction; an exchange channel, extending in a direction transverse to the flow channels; a plurality of supply channels that are fluidly connected, on a first side, to the flow collector by a first end and, on a second side, to the exchange channel by a second end. The exchange channel puts the flow channels in communication with one another and includes at least one obstacle provided to partially close off the flow between the second ends and the flow channels.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a bipolar plate in which each of the distribution channels is located facing a dividing rib of the opposite conductive sheet; and in which said distribution channels include portions of various depths that are arranged so as to form a longitudinal alternation between: an enhanced distribution zone, in which: the distribution channels have a combined cross section of a high distribution value, and the cooling channels have a combined cross section of a low cooling value; and an enhanced cooling zone, in which: the distribution channels have a combined cross section of a value that is lower than the high distribution value, and the cooling channels have a combined cross section of a value that is higher than the low cooling value.

Abstract: A bipolar plate of an electrochemical cell, including a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet, wherein at least one first distribution channel of a first conductive sheet and one second distribution channel of a second conductive sheet each include at least one portion, referred to as a superposed portion, where they are superposed onto one another and make mutual contact via their respective back walls, and at least one portion, referred to as a reinforcement portion, where they make contact, via their respective back walls, with a dividing rib of the opposite conductive sheet.

Abstract: An electrochemical reactor including: a diaphragm/electrodes assembly; at least one first reinforcement attached to one of the surfaces of the diaphragm and surrounding either the anode or the cathode; a conductive bipolar plate including a first flow manifold passing therethrough, one first surface including flow channels from a cathode reactive area and moreover including cathode homogenization channels placing the cathode reactive area in communication with the first collector; and at least one element from among the diaphragm and the first reinforcement not covering the cathode homogenization channels, depth of the cathode homogenization channels being greater than depth of the flow channels of the cathode reactive area.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for an electrochemical reactor including first and second opposing outer conductive faces, wherein: first flow channels are formed on the first outer face, extending in a same direction; first injection openings are formed in the first outer face; and a first homogenization zone is formed on the first outer face and includes homogenization channels, each one connecting a first injection opening to a plurality of the first flow channels, wherein each homogenization channel sub-divides into a plurality of limbs extending from a first injection opening to one of the flow channels.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes three membrane-electrode assemblies. and first and second bipolar metal plates interposed between the membrane-electrode assemblies. Each of the bipolar plates comprises two metal sheets facing a respective membrane-electrode assembly and fixedly attached by welds. The two metal sheets comprise successive guiding channels for guiding gas extending in a common longitudinal direction. The guiding channels are distributed in a transversal direction The welds are made in bottoms of the guiding channel and include welds of the first bipolar plate and welds of the second bipolar plate. Some of the welds of the first bipolar plate are not superimposed on the welds of the second bipolar plate and are offset longitudinally and transversally relative to the welds of the second bipolar plate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrochemical reactor, including: holding in position a first tube and a shaft extending in a same direction, the first tube including a bore in which a beam is housed; forming a stack which alternates bipolar plates and membrane/electrode assemblies, each bipolar plate and each membrane/electrode assembly including first and second openings through which the first tube and the shaft respectively extend; compressing the stack between two mechanical components and removing the beam from the bore of the first tube; and connecting the bore of the first tube to a fluid flow circuit of the electrochemical reactor.

Abstract: An electrochemical reactor is provided, including an electrical connector including an end part occupying a position referred to as engaged in a stack of electrochemical cells, including: an electrical contact portion; and a blocking portion, including: either a blocking through-orifice receiving by insertion an abutment element of an electrochemical cell, or a blocking element introduced by insertion into an abutting through-orifice of the electrochemical cell, the insertion, when the end part occupies the engaged position, leading to the formation of an abutment opposing the retraction of the end part out of the engaged position.